You are here

Borough earns grant for S. Main Street project

PUNXSUTAWNEY — Punxsutawney Borough Council has been approved to receive a $400,000 H2O grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for the South Main Street sewer project.

Monday, borough engineer Brian Sekula, of The the EADS Group, said the total cost for the project is $795,500.

Sekula said in discussions with DCED, the $400,000 could be switched to the West Mahoning Street project, and the borough could receive money for a reduced project for South Main Street.

Council approved a motion to accept the H2O money with the hope it could be used in combination with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for West Mahoning.

Borough Manager Ben White said if the CDBG money is used for the West Mahoning project, it might be possible to use the H2O money for the local match.

White said at this time, he hasn’t heard how much the borough will receive from HUD in the borough’s CDBG entitlement funds as of yet.

In other business:
• Sekula said EADS has revised the design on the south side of Route 36 to the curb line for the West Mahoning Street storm sewer project.
A PennDOT highway occupancy request can be applied for the new location.

• Sekula said a preliminary opinion of the probable construction cost was presented to the borough regarding the proposed North Findley Street sanitary sewer repair project.

The preliminary cost is projected to be $171,600 and would require a final design and a PennDOT occupancy permit prior to going to bid.
Sekula said the sewer line was examined with a television camera and there were sections of broken pipe throughout the line and could cause a problem at any time.

• Mayor James T. Wehrle said council is searching for a new junior council person. Anyone who is a junior or senior in high school, interested in politics or public service is eligible, and would find the position interesting.

If someone would like to recommend a student for the post, he or she should contact Wehrle through the borough office.

Also Monday, council approved Ordinance 1111, which:
• Creates a handicap parking space in the eastern most parking space of the 100 block of the southern side of Pine Street.

• Changes all of Torrence Street and Cranberry Alley to two-way traffic and adds a stop sign at the intersection with North Findley Street.
• Changes the name of Weis Alley to Culinary Lane.